Correspondence Course: Studying Beyond Geographical Borders

Correspondence course is synonymous with distance learning which means that a teacher and a student do not necessarily have to be in the same classroom in order to study. This learning and teaching method was initially created to address the need of United Kingdom to educate its people in different parts of the world as their empire was spreading vastly. However, this strategy stayed long after the said era considering its many advantages and practicality.

Before the advancement of modern technology - particularly in the field of communication -  such learning approach is carried out through the mail delivery system. Exchange of education materials such as lesson plans, lecture notes, answers to assignments, reports between the instructor and student is carried out regardless if both live far away from each other. Such exchange of information and learning documents in the past take time if done via postal service. Fortunately, this is no longer an issue considering that either one of the players in this educational approach can merely go online to transfer materials and answers. By doing this process via the internet, the exchange takes place almost instantly and not days or weeks as in the past.

As mentioned earlier, correspondence course teaching/learning approach continued on and at the moment even getting stronger as the same offers a number of advantages. First and foremost, this strategy enables an individual who desires an education to have access to one regardless of his location. In this sense, the world is smaller and more interconnected considering that a person in one place can be educated in a far-away country without necessarily having to move or transfer to the latter. Such set-up is advantageous for people who have the potential and talent but lack the financial capability and resources to go abroad and study. In this sense, access to quality education becomes boundless; students from anywhere in the world finally have the opportunity to be educated by lecturers and professors who are known in their particular field of interest, regardless if the experts do not live in the same continent.

Apart from transcending geographical borders, distance learning allows students to study at their own pace and simultaneously do other things that they deem important. Those who are working but want to acquire good education will find it difficult or even impossible to properly finish their academic requirements if they will attend conventional classes. However, through correspondence course, they will be able to do both with ease and less pressure; thus making the teaching and learning process more effective.

Another advantage of this learning approach is convenience considering that the student no longer have to physically go to the classroom. He can continue his education at the comfort of his own home or wherever he is currently located. Moreover, the student decides the time when he is free to study his lessons without interference from anyone. In this regard, learning becomes enjoyable and acceptable; not to mention that it can save one a lot of money and energy in the long run.

True enough, distance learning allows education to be within reach by anyone across the globe. A student can connect to his lecturer and professor even if they are on opposite sides of the planet without necessarily having to travel from one place to the next. Missing classes will no longer be an issue considering that the schedule is flexible enough to accommodate other things that the individual needs to take care of; something that is not possible if he is taking regular classes. Through this method, learning and high quality education becomes available anywhere and anytime to whoever wants it.

A correspondence course is not limited to any specific level of education. While high school completion programs, such as the GED, may be the most familiar form of distance learning, the earliest use was actually at the university level.

Advantages Of Correspondence Courses

The key advantage of correspondence courses lies in the fact that you are not supposed to be at the place where lectures are being held. The lectures are planned by the institutions themselves and they send you the printed notes at your door step through courier or post. That saves a lot of your time when the institution is far away from your place, as you need not spend time traveling.

Another advantage is that while in the regular courses you need to take down notes for a particular lecture; here you do not have the need to take down the notes, as they are all available in the printed form and delivered straight to you. In the regular courses, the lectures are conducted at a fixed time. The correspondence course allows you to have flexibility in terms of time, as some people prefer studying during the day and some prefer studying early in the morning, while some prefer studying late at night.

The correspondence course allows you to access materials of different institutions at the same time, which can be a boon for students who are willing to refer different materials in order to score more in their respective exams.

This can be an added boost to the students who prefer scoring more in their exams rather than participating in extra curricular activities.